He was a superstar on the track – and now popular Maryborough couple Len and Irene Parker are hopeful their best-ever pacer, Major Moth, can leave a legacy in the breeding barn.

The seven-year-old entire, who posted a powerful win in last year’s Group 2 Kilmore Pacing Cup (his 17th victory from just 35 starts) has been retired and will stand at Leah Crane’s Riverview Lodge in Kyneton.

“There will be no service fee whatsoever,” Len Parker explained.

“But breeders will be charged a $1200 + GST handling fee to cover all the basic vet work, drugs and scans for AI.”

After his standout Kilmore Cup performance, Major Moth had two further starts but failed to fire – and connections knew the time had come.

“He’d been hampered by leg problems throughout his career, having fractured a pastern as a young horse,” Parker said.

“Trainer Jason Grimson, who had him for his last eight starts, was keen to keep him and do all the rehab work. Jason did a great job, but in the end, we agreed it was probably best to pull the pin and retire the horse.

“We could never get a run at it all the way through his career. He’d have four or five starts and then go amiss with tendon and suspensory issues.”

Despite the setbacks, Major Moth’s class shone through.

He was a Breeders Crown champion at two, and was crowned Australian 2yo of the year. Major Moth was a Victoria Derby heat winner at three. He won heats and semis of the Breeders Crown and Vicbred – running third in the Vicbred final.

With career wins at Bendigo, Ballarat, Shepparton, Kilmore, Melton, Albion Park and Menangle he earned lifetime stakes of just under $400,000.

Champion New South Wales reinsman Cameron Hart, who, at his first drive on the horse, partnered him to his Kilmore Cup triumph, was impressed.

“The horse is a real brute,” Hart said.

“He’s so strong, has a great turn of foot and has a change of gear as well.”

Parker said Major Moth hails from a strong maternal line, tracing back to the Kudos mare Moon Moth.

“I originally raced Moon Moth on lease from Geoff Tweddle, of Cloverdale Stud. She had two wins and a third from three starts, and we talked Geoff into selling her to us,” he said.

“She beat Alphalite in two of their three clashes. Later on, she beat a top field in a four-year-old invitation at the Melbourne Showgrounds, including Welvan and Chapel Elect, but pulled up with a broken pedal bone.”

Parker said Major Moth stands at 16.2 hands.

“Apart from being a beautiful goer, he’s a real good looker. His sire Art Major speaks for himself, while the dam Macy Lila, who’s named after our granddaughter, has three foals to race for two winners.”

Leah Crane, of Riverview Lodge, echoed Parker’s praise for Major Moth.

“He’s just a lovely horse – super sensible,” Crane said.

“I got him in the other day to have his feet trimmed and there was a weanling nearby but there wasn’t a drama – he just didn’t take any notice.

“Major Moth was actually born on our property. It’s just a shame he had all those injuries during his racing.”

Riverview Lodge, set on 56 acres, has been home to 27 Group-winning thoroughbreds and standardbreds, either bred or reared there.

“Ride High’s mum and grandmother were born here,” Crane added proudly.

For further information, Riverview Lodge can be contacted via phone 0417 335 824.